Rescued Israeli hostage, the mixed-race girl Noa Argamani, spoke out for the first time on Saturday (June 29). She revealed that her “biggest concern” during the eight months of captivity was her parents. She also called for the rescue of the remaining hostages.
26-year-old Israeli citizen Noa, who was born in China, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists at the Nova music festival on October 7 last year and was held captive in the Gaza Strip for 246 days before being rescued.
“As the only child of my parents and the child of a mother with a terminal illness, my biggest concern during captivity was my parents,” Noa said in a video released by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.
“After being imprisoned by Hamas for 246 days and coming here, I feel very honored. After eight months of turmoil, I am honored to be by my mother’s side,” she said.
The New York Post reported that this two-minute video was played during a protest event in Tel Aviv on Saturday, demanding the release of the remaining hostages by Hamas.
Noa’s Chinese mother Liora is battling late-stage brain cancer and is worried that she may never see her daughter again before she passes away.
In December last year, she pleaded with President Biden and the United States to help rescue her daughter.
“I have terminal illness, stage four brain cancer,” Liora wrote in a letter to Biden. “Before I am permanently separated from my family, all I can think of is the chance to hug my daughter one last time, my only child.”
Noa stated in the video that her partner Avinatan Or is still held captive in Gaza.
“I want to remind everyone that Hamas is still holding another 120 hostages, including my partner Avinatan Or, whom I was separated from during the kidnapping.”
During the music festival attack, Hamas slaughtered 364 civilians. The video shows Or being harshly treated by Hamas terrorists, while Noa was abducted by gunmen on a motorcycle.
Noa had feared she would be killed during the terrorist attack at the music festival.
“Please don’t kill me! No, no, no!” Noa’s screams can be heard in the video, becoming a symbol of Israel’s suffering from terrorist attacks.
“Although I am now home, we cannot forget the hostages still being held by Hamas. We must do everything possible to bring them back home.”
Noa thanked the Israeli security forces and military for their brave operation to rescue her from an apartment in central Gaza.
“I mourn with the family of Amon Zamora, who lost his life in the operation to rescue me and three other hostages. My heart is with his family. Amon is an Israeli hero, because of him, we are back here.”
“I am very grateful to my family and friends, as well as to all those who spoke out for us when we could not. I thank all the outstanding individuals who supported my family during difficult times.”
She said, “I hope that all of us can have more peaceful and quiet days, surrounded by family, friends, and good people.”
“Most importantly, we can learn to love rather than hate,” Noa said.